Combined electronic receiver and relay assembly



Oct. 17, 195o J, L, B'QNANO l 2,526,453

COMBINED ELECTRONIC RECEIVER AND RELAIAssENELI Filed Aug. so, 1947 INVENTOR Joss/WL. 8mm/wvo C d5 BY a6 I v 2 C, lATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1950 CMBINED ELECTRONIC RECEIVER AND RELAY ASSEMBLY J cseph L. Bonanno, Madison, N. J., assigner to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 30, 1947, Serial No. 771,447

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to combined electronic receivers and relay assemblies and is more particularly directed toward such assemblies for use in the control cf toy electric railroad apparatus and accessories.

The present invention contemplates a compact inexpensive assembly of radio frequency receiver and rectifier with relay adapted to be operated by rectified radio frequency currents for the control of toy railroad, or other apparatus.

According to the present invention these parts are constructed and assembled in a manner to permit using them in a small closed casing or housing which can be attached to or pla-eed in the toy railroad car or accessory without conspicuously changing its appearance. A

According to the present invention the radio receiver and rectifier elements are embodied in one completely pre-assembled unit and the relay is embodied in another completely pre-assembled unit and these units together with a timing condenser, are received in a housing so that they may be secured to the carr or other accessory.

The combined receiver and rectifier formthe subject matter of application for patent Serial No. 771,448, while the relay forms the subject matter of application Serial No. 771,449, both filed August 30, 1947.

Other and further objects will hereinafter appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one embodiment in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line of Figure 2 with parts in elevation from the open side of the housing, and illustrating the assemblage of parts;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram.

The combined electronic receiver and relay assemblage shown herein has been designed more specially for use with an electronic transmitter operated directly off the alternating current, or direct current, service lines with an output of approximately 0.6 watt and having tuned circuits adapted to transmit selected frequencies of a range of from 225 to 365 kilocycles. This radio frequency current of known frequency is impressed upon the power circuit of the toy railroad system. The system employs a number of receivers each tun-ed to a transmitter frequency, and a full wave rectifier whereby output of the radio frequency source is of the order of 6 milli-f watts for operating the relay. The relay is one capable of handling currents up to 4 amperes at 18 volts for a large number of operations so as to have long life. The relay is a very sensitive relay adapted to operate on this low input and is yet able to control circuits for any of the loads customarily met in toy railroad systems.

Figure 5 shows input leads l0 and which may, for example, be the contact roller and the wheels or grounded side of the toy vehicle. The lead I is connected through a fixed condenser |2 of predetermined capacity (0.0005 mfd. for example) and the other side of the condenser is connected to a coil |3 connected with the other side I0 of the power supply. This coil is inductively coupled with a step down secondary coil U. This coil has a center tap |5 connected to the coil l5 cfa relay R. The other side of the relay is connected to the power line l0 as is obvious. The end leads Il and I8 of the secondary are connected through rectiers I9 and 20 to the other end of the relay coil and to the power supply lead |8. The relay contact 2| and power line are connected to load terminal 22 and power supply as indicated. y

In the drawings all the electrical parts were shown as contained in an insulating housing generally in the form of a 5 sided box whichis closed by a cover 3|. As indicating the small size of the parts, applicant would indicate thatthis housing may be l inch, by 2% inches, by "V8 inches.

In the structural embodiment the current supply connection corresponding with l0 of the circuit diagram is in the form of a lead indicated at 32. The soldering lug or terminal for the relay controlled circuit is shown at 33. It protrudes from the housing and may extend in the proper Y direction to facilitate connection to the load, The

grounded return connection is in the form of a plate 34 (Figure 2),which may form a part of the car or locomotive structure.

The tuning assembly employs an insulating body carrying a magnet core 4| adjustable by means of a screw 42 threaded into the body and extending out through an opening 43 in the housing. The body member 40 also carries a coil unit 44 which includes both primary and secondary coils of the transformer. Its electrical characteristics may be selected according to the frequency at which response is desired. The body member has a lateral extension 45 having recesses to receive rectiers 47 and rectier contacts 48. These rectifier contacts are connected to the secondary as indicated in the wiring diagram. The rectiers are held in place by a plate 49 crimped on to the lateral extension 45 of the body member. This plate has an upwardly extending soldering lug 50. The plate 49 and body member are apertured to receive a mounting screw 5| which passes through a hole 52 in the housing.

The relay R occupies the right hand side of the housing as shown in the drawings. This relay has a U-shaped frame which receives the coil I6 and the core 6|. The relay has an upper bracket 62 on which is pivoted the armature member 63 biased to open circuit position by a spring 64 secured to anchorage member 65. The other side of the U-shaped frame 60 carries a sheet metal armature guide and mounting member 66. This member has inturned lugs 57 by which it may be secured to the frame 60, a slot 66 to accommodate the armature 63, a downwardly bendable flange 68 to adjust the position of the armature and a mounting bracket 69 having a drawn threaded opening 70 to receive the screw 5|. The mounting member 66 carries an insulated contact assembly which includes a tubular rivet 7|, as insulating plate 12, the conducting plate 33 locked against rotation by extruded prongs 06a and 33a (Figure 4), a con ducting disc T3, an insulating washer 14, and a spring washer 15. The conducting disc 13 is eccentric and adjustable about the extruded section T7 of the plate 33 as indicated by the full and dot-and-dash line positions in Figure 3 so as to vary the air gap between the pole piece I8 and the armature B3 at the time the relay contacts are closed. This disc is preferably made of palladium silver alloy.

The receiver and rectier unit may be completely preassembled, and, except for the iron or magnetic) core, may be inserted from the open side of the housing to position it in the housing. The rectier unit may also be completely assembled and inserted into the housing in the front. When the screw 5| is tightened up the two units are secured to one another and to the housing and current connections are made from the supply lead 32 to the transformer primary, the full wave rectifier and the relay frame. The other end of the relay frame is anchored in place by a small screw indicated at 19. The core 4| of the tuning assembly may be inserted through an opening in the wall of the casing and threaded into place in the body member 40. The position of the magnetic core may be varied by adjusting it back and forth in the housing as explained in my application Serial No. 719,811, filed January 2, 1947. The wiring between the units is completed by securing the center tap 8| 0f the secondary to the soldering lug 82 carried by the relay coil. For purposes of testing the device a wire 83 connects the relay coil with a testing terminal 84 carried by the end wall of the housing.

The xed condenser I2 is received between the body member 40 and a iin 35 integral with the housing. One terminal 85 of the condenser is connected to the primary winding of the transformer while the other terminal or lead 81 passes through a hole 88 in the housing and extends over so as to be received under the head of a mounting bolt 89. The mounting bolt `89 and another similar bolt 90 are employed to secure the cover 3| to the housing 30 and to secure the complete unit to the mounting plate 34.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the patricular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a fixed condenser, a preassembled tuning assembly unit having an insulating body having a bracket, two rectiers carried by the bracket, a terminal plate carried by the bracket and in contact with both rectiers, the insulating body also carrying a ytransformer with adjustable core, primary coil and secondary coil, the primary coil being connected with the condenser and with the terminal plate, the ends of the secondary coil being connected to the rec tiers, the secondary coil having a central output tap, a relay unit having a magnetic frame, a coil connected to the frame, a mounting bracket secured to the frame, a movable armature connected to the frame, an insulated output contact, a housing about the two units, a means securing the two brackets together and to the housing wall and providing a current supply con nection for the transformer, the rectifier and the relay, and a connection from the secondary output tap to the relay coil, the transformer core having an externally accessible element extending through an opening in the housing wall.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating body has a tubular portion lateral of the bracket thereof and on which the coils are carried, the output contact of the relay is close to the securing means, and the condenser is located between the tubular portion of the insulating body and the output contact of the relay.

JOSEPH L. BONANNO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,659 Adler Dec. 10, 1940 2,074,415 Obergfell Mar. 23, 1937 2,316,211 Agnew et al Apr. 13, 1943 2,327,321 Shapiro Aug. 17, 1943 2,354,406 Seeger July 25, 1944 2,371,453 Linell Mar 13, 1945 2,409,150 Rice Oct. 8, 1946 

